May marks the shift into early summer conditions in the warm-winter zones, and gardens respond fast with rapid growth. Warm-season crops should be planted and growing strongly now, and succession sowing keeps harvests coming even as temperatures climb. Stay ahead of heat stress by mulching, watering consistently, and planting in the coolest part of the day — and in the hottest areas, begin planning for shade cloth and other summer protection.
Indoors (fresh harvests):
-
Microgreens: peas, broccoli, sunflowers, arugula
-
Sprouts: alfalfa, broccoli, radish, mung
-
Herbs & greens under lights: chives, parsley, mint
Transplants to move outdoors: Most warm-season crops should already be in the ground. If you have heat-tolerant starts on hand, get them out early in the month before conditions get too stressful.
Crops that can be directly sown outdoors in May: okra, sweet potato slips, cowpeas, yard-long beans, Malabar spinach, Armenian cucumber, and other heat-tolerant varieties. Standard cucumbers, squash, and beans can still go in early May in many areas.
Cover crops: cowpeas, sunn hemp, buckwheat, sorghum-sudangrass
Note: Cool-season crops are wrapping up. The focus shifts to heat-tolerant varieties and keeping the soil covered.
Tip: A Southern California zone 10 can be very different from a Florida zone 10. Consider checking with your state Extension Service office for more specific recommendations and guidelines.
Use your USDA zone as a guide. Microclimates matter — coastal/urban spots run warmer; high elevation runs colder.
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Lettuce Seeds - Butterhead - Buttercrunch
60-70 days. Buttercrunch Lettuce Seeds. Lactuca sativa. Non-GMO. Open Pollinated. An award-winning and absolutely hardy cultivar of butter head, Buttercrunch is tender, delicious, and looks as good in the garden...
Nasturtium Seeds - Jewel Mix
54-63 Days to maturity. Tropaeolum majus. Organic Nasturtium Jewel Mix Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, heirloom. Jewel Mix nasturtium is brilliant, easy to grow from seed, and perfectly suited for many dry...
Chives Seeds - Garlic (Organic)
Non-GMO, Heirloom Organic Garlic Chives Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Allium tuberosum. Chives are native to regions in Asia and Europe. Organic Garlic Chives are also called "Chinese...
Strawberry Seeds - Berries Basket White Hybrid
Berri Basket White Hyrbid strawberries are ready in 85 days. Strawberry variety is well suited for baskets. Hardy to zone 5, the ever-bearing, runnerless, compact and bushy plants bear large,...
Okra Seeds - Hill Country Red
60-70 days. Hill Country Red Okra Seeds. Abelmoschus esculentus. Non-GMO. Heirloom. Hill Country Red okra seeds mature to 6 feet tall and is a good producer of thick green pods...
Compact Emergency Bug Out Bag - 19 Pack
Non-GMO Bug Out Bag Survival Garden Vegetable & Herb Seeds. Compact Collection of 19 Heirloom Seed Varieties for Emergency Seed Vault. A compact and more economical version of the full...
Leafy Greens Seed Assortment - 7 Pack
Everyone knows that leafy greens are packed with essential nutrients. This collection goes beyond that to show that they can be beautiful and flavorful. From spicy arugula to tender lettuce,...
Mustard Seeds - Mizuna Red Streaks
45 days. 20 days for baby leaf. With a mild peppery mustard flavor, this green is great for salads as a baby green or a full-size green. The stalk has...
Sorghum Seeds - Multicolored Broomcorn
105-119 days to maturity. Sorghum bicolor. Multicolored Broomcorn Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, ornamental grain. This crop is suitable for growing in fields, garden plots, and raised beds. Multicolored broomcorn (sometimes...
Seed Assortment - The Three Sisters
This seed assortment featuring Blue Lake Pole Beans, Pinto Beans, Blue Hopi corn, Trucker's Favorite White corn, Golden Delicious Winter Squash, and Cushaw Green Striped Winter Squash holds great significance...
Seasonal Seed Assortment - Fall
The seeds in this collection were hand selected by our team of master gardeners to be planted in Fall months. Remember, not all seeds have to be planted in the...
Pepper Seeds - Sweet & Spicy Mix
An exciting mix of both sweet and spicy peppers. Includes 30% Cal Wonder, 20% Large Sweet Red Cherry, 15% White Bell, 7.5% Orange Bell, 7.5% Golden Cal Wonder, and 20%...
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Cambuchi
80 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum baccatum. Cambuci Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, hot pepper with medium heat levels. 4000 to 6000 Scoville Heat Units. Suitable for growing...
Brussels Sprouts Seeds - Long Island Improved
90-100 days. Long Island Improved Brussels sprouts seeds. Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera. Non-GMO. Brussels Sprouts can be grown in colder climates, and the crop is very tolerant of frost. While...
Chives Seeds - Garlic
85-90 Days to maturity. Allium tuberosum. Non-GMO, heirloom Garlic Chives Herb Garden Seed. Chives are native to regions in Asia and Europe. Garlic chive cultivars are also called "Chinese Chives"...
Swiss Chard Seeds - Rainbow Mixture
60 days. The Rainbow Mixture Swiss Chard seed mix is a blend of different colored swiss chard varieties. The chard can grow in zones 6 and up, and the leaves...
Swiss Chard Seeds - Rainbow Mixture (Organic)
60 days. Organic Rainbow Mixture Swiss Chard seeds. Beta vulgaris var. cicla. Non-GMO. Organic Rainbow mixture swiss chard seed is the perfect variety mix for the home gardener who wants...
Parsnip Seeds - Harris Model
100-120 days. Heirloom. Non-GMO. Pastinaca sativa. Harris is THE parsnip that people think of when they think of parsnips. This has been the standard for years and for good reason....
Corn Seeds - Popcorn - Miniature Blue
100-110 Days to maturity. Zea mays ’Miniature Blue’. Miniature Blue Corn Seeds. Non-GMO, heirloom, open-pollinated, annual, Pop Corn. Suitable for growing in garden plots or raised beds. Corn tolerates heat...
Corn Seeds - Serendipity Hybrid - Clearance Seeds
65% Germination - Non-refundable clearance seeds. 82 Days to maturity. Serendipity Hybrid Corn Seeds. This bicolor TripleSweet® corn produces high-quality 8-inch ears with 16 to 18 rows of sugar-enhanced kernels....
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